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\n\t\t\tPeople around the league increasingly believe the Lakers will sign forward\/center Sandro Mamukelashvili and guard Quentin Grimes, according to Marc Stein of The Stein Line, who reports (via Twitter) that Los Angeles continues to pursue Jazz center Walker Kessler, its \u201ctop summer target.\u201d
\nMamukelashvili and Grimes are unrestricted free agents and thus able to sign with any team. Kessler is restricted, however, and the Lakers would have to either work out a sign-and-trade with Utah or perhaps sign him to an offer sheet that the Jazz are unwilling to match in order to acquire him.
\nGeorgian big man Mamukelashvili figures to cash in after having a strong season with the Raptors on a veteran\u2019s minimum in 2025\/26. He far outperformed that deal and is expected to command a nine-figure annual payday this summer after declining his $2.8MM player option for \u201926\/27 to hit free agency.\u00a0
\nStein, his colleague Jake Fischer, and Dan Woike of The Athletic all linked Mamukelashvili to the Lakers late Monday night. Those same reporters, plus Grant Afseth of Dallas Hoops Journal, subsequently connected Grimes to Los Angeles, referring to the former first-round pick as one of the team\u2019s top targets.
\nGrimes, a 6\u20194\u2033 shooting guard, has spent the past season-and-a-half with the Sixers. He signed his one-year qualifying last offseason as a restricted free agent and it sounds like the former first-round pick is on track to join his fifth different team ahead of his sixth year in the league.
\nThe Lakers are operating with cap room this summer after LeBron James informed the team he plans to play elsewhere in \u201926\/27. While they may end up adding Mamukelashvili and Grimes, they\u2019re losing sharpshooter Luke Kennard to the Suns and are expected to lose forward Rui Hachimura as well, per Brett Siegel of ClutchPoints (Twitter link).
\nAs for Kessler, the 7\u20192\u2033 big man has met with multiple suitors thus far as he looks to secure a massive contract. The 24-year-old was limited to just five appearances last season due to a shoulder injury, but he\u2019s shown promise as a rebounder and rim protector and the Lakers have reportedly expressed interest in acquiring him in multiple times in the past.<\/p>\n